As always, thank you to rotasha for correcting my story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Batman, Superman, or any other DC characters.


"We're here," Batman said as he turned off the ignition of the Batmobile. Robin nodded excitedly as he undid his seatbelt and climbed out of the car, waiting for Bruce to catch up. The vehicle was parked several blocks away from where Batman presumed Poison Ivy was striking tonight. It hadn't been extremely difficult to figure out her target. It was public knowledge that the biggest chemical processing plant in Gotham was planning to merge with one of Metropolis' newest factories.

The official jointure of the two companies was being celebrated tonight at the Metropolis branch. Batman was positive they would also announce their first project. It was almost too obvious what assets Gotham's chemical plant was after. The Metropolis branch had recently received funding from a private donor and had made headways in a new product that 'naturally' helped get rid of weeds and other plants. What made it 'natural' was the fact that it didn't leave any trace of its usage. Obtaining the chemical agent would make illegal deforestation all the easier.

You'd think with a known criminal like Poison Ivy making it very clear what her opinion on deforestation was, the chemical plants would have tried to be a bit more discreet about their plans. And although Bruce did agree with Pamela that destroying nature only brought on consequences for humanity, he currently felt more strongly opposed to whatever she had in store for everyone present at the ceremony tonight.

With their grappling hooks in hand, Batman signaled Robin to follow him as they made their way via rooftop to the location of the celebration.

"No sign of anything suspicious," Robin whispered as they arrived at the edge of the rooftop directly overlooking the venue.

"Most of the guests are already inside. If Poison Ivy isn't already in there, she'll be arriving and striking at any moment." Batman observed the scene with a pair of binoculars he always kept in his utility belt.

Robin slightly turned his head to look at his partner. "What's the plan? Should we just poppy-n and pull the fire alarm?"

Batman placed the binoculars back in his utility belt and briefly glanced at the young boy. Robin was smiling at him, clearly proud of his pun. It was something he'd recently started doing after he noticed Bruce smirk the first time he ever cracked a joke. It had happened while they were training in the Cave, and it seemed like Dick had now made it his personal mission to get Batman to smile during patrol.

"If we pull the alarm, most of the guests will leave through the same fire escape. Shepherding them all in the same area could possibly be what Ivy wants. The guests are spread out now in the various rooms of the factory, it's best if we—"

The sudden sound of glass shattering refocused Batman's attention. The large windows in the main room of the factory were now broken; vines had grown seemingly out of nowhere and shot out from the windows.

"Help civilians escape; I'll take care of her," Batman instructed as he once again grabbed his grappling hook. He aimed for the largest room in the factory. The vines were alive with activity and blocking the entrance the glassless windows now provided.

"Enter through the skylights," Batman told Robin. He didn't want to try going in through the windows. The vines looked different from the ones Poison Ivy normally grew; Bruce didn't want to interact with them until he knew what they were capable of. Plus, he and Robin might have the element of surprise by entering through the one point of entry Pamela hadn't thought to block.

Without missing a beat, Robin fell into perfect pace as he followed Batman onto the roof.

They crept up to the skylights and peeked a glance before barging in. They were greeted by a chaotic scene. Vines were not only blocking all the windows but also the only door that led out of the main room of the factory. Several men and women in business attire were failing to claw their way through the thick plants that were strangling them. Others were desperately trying to dodge the vines as they snaked around the room. Pamela was calmly standing in the middle of the room, enjoying the show.

"Stay a good distance from the plants; try detonating the ones blocking the door," Batman explained. Robin nodded in understanding. Bruce stomped his heel through the thick glass, allowing them a point of entry.

The pair jumped through and landed on one of the catwalks just as Poison Ivy looked up in their direction. The noise they'd made attracted her attention.

Robin ran to the end of the catwalk where a ladder would bring him down directly in front of the blocked door. Batman wasted no time in jumping down from the catwalk. Now that his knee was healed and that he'd upgraded his suit, he had no issues in sticking the landing.

"Ivy, I know what chemical they've created, but—" Batman started but was immediately cut off by Pamela.

"Don't even try, Batman," she roared. "You're always patronizing me and telling me there are other options, but you never offer a real solution. Violence is the only thing these monsters understand!" She was pointing at all the individuals in the room. Every single one of them was in a state of pure panic or shock, crying and trying to find ways to save themselves.

"Destroy the chemical. Go public with its real composition. There are other ways than just murdering everyone in attendance," Batman argued as he worked at slashing some of the vines holding people captive.

"I spare the lives of greedy, rich men so they can turn around and have the poison remade? I don't think so," Pamela retorted angrily. "Do you even know what the chemical they invented is capable of? They could deforest all of Gotham in no time and there would be no proof of it."

"Chemicals like that are made all the time. Why is this one suddenly of more interest?" Batman asked, but he already knew the answer. Keeping Pamela's focus on him was the priority. Disagreeing with her and raising her emotions was the best way to achieve that.

"Saving nature is always of interest to me, especially when it's my home that's in danger," she said as she stalked towards him. The vine Bruce had been working on cutting through had finally broken, freeing the man that had been stuck. Bruce helped the older gentleman to his feet and then gently pushed him in the direction of the door Robin had successfully opened.

He'd managed to save the man in the nick of time as Pamela directed some unoccupied vines to now attack him.

Bruce dodged to the right, narrowly avoiding getting caught in the vines' strong grip. But they continued to pursue him as he weaved through the room. He could tell Pamela was controlling them.

"How did you convince Bane to team up with you?" Batman asked as he threw a flash bomb in her direction. The sudden bright light and loud sound would possibly break the connection she had with the plants, if only for a little while.

"Argh!" Pamela grunted as she stumbled backward, using her arms to cover her eyes. "Of course you know about that," she grumbled as she tried to regain her footing.

"What drug did he supply you with that accentuated your connection with the plants?" Batman continued to interrogate her as he approached.

"Aren't you dying to know?" she replied, a devilish smirk on her face.

"Robin! Rebreather, now," Bruce instructed. From the corner of his eye, he watched Robin grab the device from his utility belt. Bruce didn't need Dick getting affected by whatever noxious gas Ivy had fused with her plants.

"So easily frightened," Poison Ivy teased as she raised her hands over her head. "But maybe it's smart that you are. You can't imagine the horrors my babies have in store for everyone here tonight."

Bruce had just enough time to adjust his own rebreather before dark, red-colored gas started leaking from some of the vines. Luckily Robin had managed to shuffle everyone out of the main room, but there was no doubt that the fumes would soon spread to the rest of the building by way of the air vents.

He hoped most people had the common sense to evacuate the premise, but in moments of chaos and panic, logic wasn't always present. They needed to check the building to make sure there'd been no one left behind. Bruce didn't want anyone falling prey to Ivy's toxic concoction.

No longer weakened or distracted by the flash bombs, Poison Ivy sent another wave of vines in Batman's direction. They were fast and nimble; he was having a hard time dodging them. Cutting through them was also proving to be difficult and tiresome. He needed to find a quicker way to get through them. Fire might prove a useful way to kill the plants, but what if this new gas reacted to intense heat?

Robin must have caught on to Batman's tactic of trying to distract Poison Ivy because he threw a Batarang which embedded itself in Ivy's thigh. She screamed out in pain.

"You little brat!" Ivy roared as she yanked the weapon out of her leg.

"I'm actually a little bat," Robin taunted as he grabbed more Batarangs from his belt.

Bruce hated when Dick made himself a target, but he couldn't deny its effectiveness. Poison Ivy was now focused on Robin, which gave Batman the time he needed. He ran towards the electric panel that was on one of the factory walls. He'd assumed that the switch for the ventilation system was most likely there, and he'd been right. As soon as he pried open the box, he flipped the switch that turned the ventilation system to the maximum setting. Given the size of the fans and the room, Bruce hypothesized it would take about five minutes before it was safe for him to test his heat theory.

Unfortunately, Batman accomplished this a second too late. As Bruce turned around, Pamela had just sent several plants in Robin's direction, and he wasn't able to dodge them any longer.

"Enough of this," Poison Ivy yelled. Satisfied that Robin was captured, she turned back around to face Batman. She wasted no time and also commanded some vines to attack him.

Robin was struggling against the vines that were now tightly wrapped around his small frame. Bruce needed to get him out, but he was still a good distance away and preoccupied by the vines that Ivy kept sending in his direction.

Back to his original plan of distracting her, but this time while he waited for the air in the room to be filtered.

"Which guard in Arkham gave you the drugs Bane planned to hand over during the exchange I busted at the warehouse three months ago?" Bruce asked, trying to draw her attention back towards him.

After Batman (and Superman) had subdued Bane in the warehouse, Bruce hadn't been able to shake the feeling that he'd only scratched the surface of what was going on. So, while he'd been forcefully benched by Alfred during his recovery, Bruce had investigated the origins of the warehouse and combed through any surveillance footage from the area. He'd managed to find evidence that Bane had been planning to meet with Poison Ivy to exchange something. But since the meeting had been interrupted, Ivy had needed to find another way to obtain the product. Bruce had been keeping tabs on her ever since, and that's why he'd followed her all the way to Metropolis tonight.

"Do you honestly expect me to answer that? Your desperation is showing, Bats," Ivy retorted.

He hadn't expected her to answer. It was fine. He already knew which security guards and cops in Arkham and the GCPD were willing to do favors for criminals.

"Enough of this!" she declared, clearly fed up. A record number of vines came shooting toward Bruce, some of them even dislodging themselves from Robin to attack Batman.

Bruce found himself unable to dodge them or fight them off. He couldn't help himself from grunting at the force of their impact.

"B!" Robin cried out, clearly worried.

"You always ruin everything," Pamela growled angrily. The vines holding Batman's arms and legs in place started to squeeze tighter. He could feel the sensation of pins and needles racing down his limbs. With his arms pinned against his side, he wasn't able to reach into his utility belt and grab the tools he needed to escape. His only advantage right now were the fins on his gauntlet. With enough friction, he might be able to weaken the vines to free his hands.

There was no mistaking that Pamela's opportunity to kill all the sleazy businessmen at the party had passed. With the building evacuated, it would take her longer to find everyone and murder them. Plus, Batman knew she could hear the sound of the approaching sirens. The Metropolis fire brigade and police force were on the way. She needed to make a quick getaway if she wanted to avoid being arrested.

"I have what I need. Those who escaped will get what's coming for them. If this whole place blows up with you in it, so be it," Poison Ivy unsurprisingly said. She gave Batman and Robin one last look before turning around. She commanded some of the vines to wrap around her legs and lift her towards the ceiling. Pamela exited through the same skylight Batman and Robin had entered through.

"Robin, can you reach inside your utility belt and grab—" Batman had started asking, but his voice was quickly drowned out.

Batman felt the pieces of concrete and glass bounce off his suit before his ears registered the sound of something breaking through one of the vines blocking the windows. The impact of whatever crashed through the makeshift blockade also tore some parts of the wall off. A force that great in Metropolis could only mean one thing.

"Batman? What's going on?" Superman asked as he took in the situation. Bruce assumed he'd been drawn to the area by all the screaming but hadn't checked to find out what was going on before barging his way into the chemical plant.

"Poison Ivy tried to kill everyone in attendance, and she's now escaped, but I don't want your help, Superman," Bruce growled as he struggled to get out of Ivy's vines.

"You look like you need my help," Superman replied as his eyes roamed across the room. This was the first time Superman had ever talked back to Batman; Bruce wasn't a fan of it.

Superman then seemed to notice that the duo was wearing breathing devices. He took in a deep breath and inhaled all the noxious gas in the room. Within seconds, the red-colored smog that the gas had created disappeared. Superman was quick to fly off, exiting through the hole in the wall he'd created.

The hero was back in no time. "I released the gas into space, so it can't harm anyone," Superman confirmed what Batman had assumed he'd gone and done.

"That's so cool!" Robin remarked in awe, even as the vines kept squeezing him.

"Let me help you," Superman offered. He flew over to Robin's side. Superman used his heat vision to slice through the roots of the plants that were holding Robin prisoner. "Looks like things got a bit intense in here," he remarked.

"Yeah," Robin confirmed. "B, even you have to admit that Poison Ivy had a surprising violet streak tonight," Robin joked as he landed on the floor. "She came here to murder everyone at the meeting!"

Bruce pretended not to hear Dick's horrible pun as he finally slashed his way through the vine that was restraining his left hand. The vine was already repairing itself, so Bruce wasted no time in reaching into his utility belt to grab the miniaturized acetylene torch. He used the laser to cut through the vines that still held on to his legs and right arm.

Unfortunately, none of them were able to ignore Superman's small chuckle in response to Robin's joke. Batman turned around to glare at Superman while Robin beamed up at the hero with a look of pure delight and pride.

"I don't want your—" Batman started to repeat himself, but Superman boldly cut him off.

"You can kick me out of Gotham, but you can't kick me out of Metropolis," Superman told him. "It's my city and I'm here to protect it. I'm willing to do things your way; just let me stay."

Superman had a point. Batman begrudgingly grunted in response. He then put a small part of the vine he'd cut off in a container and placed it in his utility belt to analyze later.

"Robin, make sure the entire building has been evacuated and no one has been left behind," Batman instructed. Robin gave a salute before running off to the rooms on the opposite end of the factory. "Superman, get rid of all these plants. They keep regenerating but the heat that radiated from your heat vision earlier seemed to stop the process. Then sweep the building and find any other organic matter Ivy created."

Superman glanced at the plant that had held Robin captive. Like Batman had observed, it had shriveled up and died compared to the vine that had been on Batman's left arm, which was still very much alive.

"And you?" Superman asked as he levitated a couple of inches off the ground.

"I'm going after Ivy, I know where she's heading," Batman replied honestly. He hadn't meant to be so honest. Damn it. Did Ivy's new creations also contain a toxin that forced people to tell the truth? Had his rebreather been damaged during the fight? He had no way of knowing if he was under some sort of influence. "Just wait here until I get back, and keep Robin safe."

Bruce left without waiting for Superman to respond. He didn't need to be spilling any more secrets. Once he caught up with Ivy, he'd administer himself a generalized remedy he had against most of her known toxins and see if it helped with his forced honesty.


"Report, Robin," Batman asked as he joined his ward and Superman on one of the nearby rooftops. Both heroes looked fine, if a little banged up in Robin's case. It was protocol for the boy to fill him in whenever they went their separate ways during a fight.

"Superman confirmed that there's no one left in the building and helped me make sure any injured individuals were found by paramedics. A couple of serious injuries, but no casualties," he expertly reported.

Batman nodded. "Poison Ivy has been apprehended and Metropolis Police have her in custody. They're going to be transferring her to Arkham. Bane is still in Arkham; I assume they were going to meet up at a different time, so Gordon has been warned and I'll check it out when we get back to Gotham."

"Good job, B!" Robin cheerfully replied. "Thanks for your help, Superman!" Bruce had noticed that Dick often got excited and rode an adrenaline rush after any intense encounter. But he'd also observed how much Robin idolized Superman.

"It was my pleasure," Superman answered as he smiled down at the boy, his joy infectious. "I guess I should also thank the pair of you for letting me join your team." This he said as he looked at Batman. "Who should I make out the gift basket to?"

Superman was clearly joking. Even Robin was laughing along. Both of them were smiling, confident in the fact that they knew Batman would never reveal his secret identity. After all, Superman had never pried; he'd always respected Batman's desire to remain anonymous.

Yet here was Batman, suddenly struggling to stop himself from answering the unintentional question.

"Bruce Wayne," he said as he maintained a calm tone.

Superman and Robin immediately stopped laughing and stared at him in pure shock. Robin was clearly concerned as to why Batman had suddenly been so forthcoming. Whereas Superman was looking at him like he'd just grown an extra head and he didn't quite believe what he saw.

As soon as the words escaped his lips, Bruce's brain started running at a thousand miles an hour. Why had he answered Superman? Damn it! The remedy he'd given himself hadn't worked. Pamela must have changed whatever gas she infused her toxic plants with. The new formula must have had different elements of truth serum in it. He needed to get back to the Cave as soon as possible to work on a new antidote. It was a good thing he had picked up a sample before Superman had burned—

It suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks. He was such an idiot. How stupid could he be? He fancied himself a detective, yet it had taken him until now to notice that Clark Kent and Superman were one and the same. How the hell were those damn glasses so effective.

Finding out Clark Kent was Bruce Wayne's soulmate had been an emotional rollercoaster for Bruce. He'd felt like Tantalus, cursed to have good things, but not being permitted to enjoy them. He'd gotten a glimpse of the life and love he could have with Clark, but Batman had caused it to be just out of reach. Deep down, he'd always known allowing himself to fall in love wasn't worth the price of endangering Clark.

He thought he'd put all of that behind him. But just now, revealing Batman's true identity, the one thing he'd so carefully planned and worked to keep a secret, had started another crisis. Bruce now felt like Icarus. He'd been too confident and in denial, ignoring all warnings from the universe and people who cared about him, like Alfred. And for that arrogance and blind trust in himself, he'd been punished. He'd flown too close to the sun and only realized Superman's identity once it was too late. Now, with their secret identities out in the open, Bruce and Dick's lives were possibly in danger.

And yet, despite all of this, Bruce didn't actually feel like he was being punished. Realizing Superman was just as much his soulmate as Clark Kent was, felt like a reward. Because Clark was kind, thoughtful, and intelligent; a worthy friend. Because Superman was brave, caring, and strong; a worthy partner. These all felt like good things, but was Bruce deserving of them? Of Clark? Had Clark even noticed the signs that he and Bruce Wayne were soulmates? Had Superman figured it out? Was that why he insisted on helping tonight?

"Batman?" Robin finally dared to ask, concern lacing his voice. His voice cut through Bruce's train of thought.

"Follow us back to Gotham, we need to talk," Bruce growled. He stared at Superman, waiting for him to answer. He needed to know Clark would follow him to the Cave. He needed a chance to explain what was going on and convince Clark to not reveal his secret. But this wasn't something to be discussed in the open. Bruce had already revealed a lot and risked too much.

"Yeah," Superman nodded, coming out of his shocked daze. "Yeah, we need to talk."

"I'm assuming I don't need to give you directions and you can track us? Just don't allow yourself to be seen," Batman instructed gravely.

"I can do that," Clark confirmed, although he still seemed stunned by how the night had turned out. Bruce was just as surprised.

"You could get Superman to fly you back now if you don't want to waste time. I can drive the Batmobile back to Gotham," Robin excitedly suggested.

"Nice try," Bruce denied. He began walking in the direction of where he'd parked the Batmobile. Robin trailed behind him and Bruce heard the sound of Superman's cape flapping in the wind as he took to the sky.

Bruce was in for a long night.


What can I say, this is turning into a budding romance! (Sorry I had to fit in one more pun.) Also yes, I did decide to use Greek Mythology to explain Bruce's internal crisis about his feelings for Clark. Am I outing myself as I giant Greek Mythology nerd, yes.

And I guess the cat is finally out of the bag! It's time for a soulmate showdown! There are one or two chapters left.